Swimming pool coping

ABSTRACT

A one-piece extrudable, first coping for a swimming pool includes a horizontal section and a vertical section with means formed at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical sections for gripping the upper edge of a vinyl liner. The coping is attached to the metal liner for the pool and a deck is formed around the coping and aids in retaining the coping in place. A second coping can be attached to a vertical wall of the first coping to extend upwardly and over the edge of the deck.

United States Patent [1 1 Engelhart et al.

.[ 1 Sept. 17, 1974 1 1 SWIMMING POOL COPING [75] Inventors: John M. Engelhart; William P.

Morrish, both of Clio, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Quality Pool Supply Co., Clio, Mich.

22 Filed: Dec. 20, 1972 [21 Appl. No.: 316,660

[52] U.S. Cl ..4/172.21, 52/169, 52/179 [51] Int. Cl E04h 3/16, E04h 3/18 [58] Field of Search 4/172, 172.21, 17219; 52/169, 179

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,347,006 10/1967 Fox 4/l72.21 X

3,512,326 5/1970 Green 4/l72.2l X

3,524,291 8/1970 Rozanski 52/169 3,579,665 5/1971 Barker 4/172.l9

3,590,400 7/1971 Kessler 4/172.21

3,634,892 1/1972 Rains 4/l72.21

3,673,751 7/1972 Boassy 52/169 3,739,539 6/1973 Posnick 52/169 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or FirmHauke, Gifford, Patalidis & Dumont [57] ABSTRACT A one-piece extrudable, first coping for a swimming pool includes a horizontal section and a vertical section with means formed at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical sections for gripping the upper edge of a vinyl liner. The coping is attached to the metal liner for the pool and a deck is formed around the coping and aids in retaining the coping in place. A second coping can be attached to a vertical wall of the first coping to extend upwardly and over the edge of the deck.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SWIMMING POOL COPING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to swimming pools and more particularly to a coping and deck construction for such swimming pools.

2. Prior Art There are presently available swimming pool copings of many designs and shapes. The coping generally performs both a useful function and a design function in that it is utilized to retain the upper edge of the vinyl liner and to provide a means of forming the upper edge of the swimming pool.

Heretofore coping of this type has been unduly expensive to manufacture and has been capable of use with but one configuration and construction of deck. Coping provided for underground swimming pools with a concrete deck, for instance, was not usable heretofore for an above ground swimming pool with a wooden deck.

Further, such coping has generally provided a horizontal portion adjacent the decking. This provides an area which becomes worn and damaged and which therefore requires regular attention generally in the form of periodic painting. If the coping becomes severely damaged or worn replacement is difficult and expensive. Also when coping constructed with a horizontal portion is utilized with a concrete deck it is difficult to form a clean straight edge between the concrete and the coping and the horizontal section of the coping often becomes damaged as the concrete deck is being formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a first coping having a lower horizontal section and an upper vertical section. The means for gripping a vinyl liner is formed at the intersection of the vertical section and the horizontal section so that the coping can be extruded thereby substantially reducing the cost of manufacturing such coping.

A concrete deck having any desired horizontal configuration can be poured over the horizontal section of the coping to securely maintain the coping in place. The vertical section provides a form for one edge of the concrete. A wooden deck can also be constructed over the horizontal section so that the coping can be used with either above ground or below ground pools.

The coping can be usedin this manner and has no exposed horizontal section so that if the deck is concrete the horizontal surface of the'deck can be formed as desired and since it extends up to the edge of the vertical section of the coping a clean, neat appearing edge is formed between the coping and the concrete deck. Since no exposed horizontal section is provided on the coping there is little danger of damage to the coping either during the installation of the coping or the decking or during use of the pool.

If a construction of more conventional appearance is desired, a second coping is provided which can be fastened to the vertical wall of the first coping to extend up over the upper edge of the deck. Since the second coping is installed after the deck is completed, it will not be damaged by installation of the deck and there is no problem in providing straight clean lines between the coping and the deck. Also if it becomes damaged or worn it can be readily removed and replaced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the present invention will be achieved upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool utilizing the first coping of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view substantially as seen from 22 of FIG. 1 enlarged somewhat for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view of the coping and deck construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating another preferred use of the first coping of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a combination utilizing the second coping of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view of the combination shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 a swimming pool 10 is illustrated as including a first coping l2 defining the upper edge of the pool. A deck 13 preferably of concrete surrounds the coping 12.

The coping 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as comprising a vertical section 14 integrally joined at its lower edge to ahorizontal section 16. An L-shaped web 18 extends from the lower edge of the vertical section 14 to the upper face of the horizontal section 16 at a point spaced-from the end thereof and cooperates with a flanged portion 20 of the horizontal section 16 to form a slot 21 for receiving the beaded edge 24 of a vinyl liner 26. V

The horizontal section 16 is preferably mounted by screws 29 to a horizontal portion 30 of a metal liner 32 which surrounds the pool 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-3 the horizontal section 16 of the coping 12 is embedded in the concrete which forms the deck 13. The concrete deck 13 extends up to one face of the vertical section 14 and is shown in the drawings as being provided with a fiat upper surface 28 which may or may not gradually slope to the ground surface surrounding the pool 10. It is apparent that the particular construction of the coping 12 is such that the upper surface 28 of the deck 13 can have any desired configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred construction similar to that shown in FIGS. l-3 except that a wooden deck 40 has been substituted for the concrete deck 13 previously described. Such decks 40 are commonly utilized with above ground swimming pools. the deck 40 comprises firring 42 laid upon the horizontal section 16 of the coping l2 and the horizontal portion 30 of the metal liner 32. Wooden members 44 are nailed across the firring 42. The firring 42 permits the wooden members 44 to have their bottom surfaces level with the top of the web 18. One of the wooden members 44 is positioned against the inside surface of the vertical section 14. Carpet 46 is provided on the upper surface of the wooden members 44.

The first coping 12 is preferably constructed of a material such as aluminum or the like which is capable of being extruded. The particular design of the coping 12 with the horizontal section 16, the vertical section 14 and the vinyl bead gripping means 22 formed at the intersection of these sections, permits the coping to be formed by extrusion. This substantially reduces manufacturing costs for such coping.

The coping 12 is securely fastened in place by reason of the horizontal section 16 being fastened to the metal liner 32 and by being embedded in the concrete used to form the deck 13 or by being covered with the wooden members 42 and 44 which form the deck 40. The manner in which the concrete deck 13 is poured up to the side of the vertical section 14 and the absence of an exposed horizontal section of the coping 12 makes it possible to provide a concrete deck having any desired configuration for the upper surface. he surface 28 of FIG. 3 is but one example of the many different types of surfaces which can be utilized for the concrete deck 13. The vertical section 14 acts as a form for the concrete when it is poured to form the deck 13. The coping 12 is also capable of use with wooden decks such as those shown in FIG. 4. Since there is no exposed horizontal surface of the coping 12, damage and wear of the coping 12 is reduced to a minimum.

FIGS. and 6 illustrate a construction similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-4 but in which a second coping 60 has been added to provide a more conventional appearance for the coping assembly.

The second coping 60 is also preferably formed from aluminum and includes a flat section 62 adapted to be positioned adjacent the vertical section 14 of the first coping l2 and to be fastened thereto by screws 64. A curved portion 66 is integrally joined to the upper edge of the flat section 62 and extends up over the upper edge of the vertical section 14 of the first coping 12 and upper surface 28 of the deck 13 to provide support.

The flat portion 68 is provided with an inwardly turned flange portion 74 at its outer edge which is adapted to be received by flanged brackets 76 preferably embed ded in the concrete forming the deck 13.

The second coping 60 can be used with either the concrete deck 13 of FIGS. 1-3, or the wooden deck 40 of FIG. 4. With the wooden deck 40 the bracket 76 would, of course, have to be modified. Since the coping 60 is installed after the deck is formed and over the top of the inner edge of the deck it will not be damaged by installation of the deck and a clean line is formed between the deck and the coping. Further, should the coping 60 become damaged or worn, it can be readily replaced.

It is apparent that an improved coping for swimming pools has been described and that changes and modifications to the coping which has been disclosed can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A coping for a swimming pool having a liner and a deck, said coping comprising:

a flat, substantially planar vertical section terminating at its upper end in a horizontal edge which is only of the thickness of said coping and a horizontal section integrally joined to the lower edge of said vertical section,

means for gripping said liner formed at the intersection of said vertical section and said horizontal section,

said horizontal section of said coping being completely covered by said deck and the horizontal edge of said vertical section defining one edge of said deck.

2. The coping as defined in claim 1 and in which said gripping means comprises:

an L-shaped web extending from the lower edge of the vertical section to an upper face of the horizontal section at a point spaced from the end of said horizontal section,

the edge of said horizontal section being flanged whereby said L-shaped web and said flanged end form a slot extending around said swimming pool for retaining said liner.

3. The coping as defined in claim 1, said deck being formed of concrete and extending over said horizontal section and up to said vertical section.

4. The coping as defined in claim 1 and said deck being formed of wooden members, said wooden members being disposed over said horizontal section and extending adjacent said vertical section.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including a second coping having a flat portion fastened to said vertical section of said first mentioned coping, a curved portion integrally joined to the upper edge of said flat portion and extending over the juncture of said vertical section and said deck and a flat portion extending horizontally over a portion of said deck.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 and including means for removably fastening said second mentioned flat portion to said deck.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 and including fastening means for removably attaching said flat portion of said second coping to said vertical section of said first mentioned coping.

8. A coping for a swimming pool having a liner and a deck, said coping comprising:

a flat substantially planar, vertical section adjacent a vertical surface of said deck and a curved portion integrally joined to the upper portion of said vertical section and having a flat horizontal portion extending over the horizontal surface of said deck;

- means for removably fastening said vertical section to the vertical surface of said deck and for removably fastening said flat portion to a horizontal portion of said deck.

9. The coping as defined in claim 8 and in which said fastening means comprises brackets fastened to said deck and an inwardly formed flange on said flat portion to be received by said bracket means. 

1. A coping for a swimming pool having a liner and a deck, said coping comprising: a flat, substantially planar vertical section terminating at its upper end in a horizontal edge which is only of the thickness of said coping and a horizontal section integrally joined to the lower edge of said vertical section, means for gripping said liner formed at the intersection of said vertical section and said horizontal section, said horizontal section of said coping being completely covered by said deck and the horizontal edge of said vertical section defining one edge of said deck.
 2. The coping as defined in claim 1 and in which said gripping means comprises: an L-shaped web extending from the lower edge of the vertical section to an upper face of the horizontal section at a point spaced from the end of said horizontal section, the edge of said horizontal section being flanged whereby said L-shaped web and said flanged end form a slot extending around said swimming pool for retaining said liner.
 3. The coping as defined in claim 1, said deck being formed of concrete and extending over said horizontal section and up to said vertical section.
 4. The coping as defined in claim 1 and said deck being formed of wooden members, said wooden members being disposed over said horizontal section and extending adjacent said vertical section.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 and includIng a second coping having a flat portion fastened to said vertical section of said first mentioned coping, a curved portion integrally joined to the upper edge of said flat portion and extending over the juncture of said vertical section and said deck and a flat portion extending horizontally over a portion of said deck.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 and including means for removably fastening said second mentioned flat portion to said deck.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 5 and including fastening means for removably attaching said flat portion of said second coping to said vertical section of said first mentioned coping.
 8. A coping for a swimming pool having a liner and a deck, said coping comprising: a flat substantially planar, vertical section adjacent a vertical surface of said deck and a curved portion integrally joined to the upper portion of said vertical section and having a flat horizontal portion extending over the horizontal surface of said deck; means for removably fastening said vertical section to the vertical surface of said deck and for removably fastening said flat portion to a horizontal portion of said deck.
 9. The coping as defined in claim 8 and in which said fastening means comprises brackets fastened to said deck and an inwardly formed flange on said flat portion to be received by said bracket means. 